OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 189 b (2)(d) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament' s amendments to the Council' s common position regarding the proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION establishing 1996 as the "European Year of Lifelong Learning"
Date: 1995-07-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Economic Area, European symbol, competitiveness, continuing education, education policy, fight against unemployment

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 05.07.1995 
COM(95)  316  final 

94/0199  (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article  189 b (2) (d) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the 

proposal  for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 

establishing  1996 as the "European Year of Lifelong Learning" 

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article  189 a (2) of the EC Treaty 

Explanatory  memorandum 

The Commission  submitted its proposal to the Parliament  and Council on 29  September 
1994. 

The Economic and  Social  Committee and the Committee of the Regions delivered  their 
opinions on 23 November  and  16 November  1994 respectively. 

The Standing Committee of EFT A States of the EEA transmitted its common position on 
15 December  1994. 

The European  Parliament  voted  on the proposal  at first  reading  on  16 March  1995 and 
put forward  39 amendments. 

The  Commission  submitted  its  amended  proposal  on  31 March  1995.  27  Parliament 
amendments were accepted,  some of them  in part or in spirit.  12 were  rejected. 

The Council adopted a common position on 20 April 1995. 26 amendments were adopted, 
in  spirit  if not in the precise  form. 

The European Parliament  voted  on the proposal  at second reading on  15 June  1995 and 
put forward  two amendments. 

Opmfon  of the Commission  on the European  Parliament  amendments 

The Commission accepts the two amendments voted by Parliament. 

These  amendments  provide  a better balance  to  the reference  to the  role  of  the  social 
partners in lifelong learmng and identify collective agreements, which must be consistent 
with national rales, as a means of fulfilling  this role. 

Amended  proposal  relating  to the proposal  for a 
Parliament  and  Council  Decision 
establishing  1996 as the  "European  Year of Lifelong  Learning" 

In  accordance  with  Article  189a  (2)  of  the  EC  Treaty,  the  Commission  is  presenting 
below an amended proposal taking account of the two European Parliament  amendments 
and the common  position  of the Council. 

Amendment  1 

Article 2 (6) 

Article 2 (6) 

the 

importance  of 

The  raising  of  awareness  of  the  social 
partners  of 
the 
creation of new opportunities for lifelong 
learning  in  the  context  of  European 
competitiveness and highly employment-
intensive economic growth. 

the 

importance  of 

The  raising  of  awareness  of  the  social 
partners  of 
the 
creation  of  and  participation  in  new 
opportunities for lifelong  learning in the 
context of European competitiveness and 
highly  employment-intensive  economic 
growth. 
Otherwise unchanged 

Amendment  2 

Article 3 

Article 3 

...,  those promoting  amongst employers 
the 
to  contribute  to 
a  willingness 
and 
training 
initial 
provision  of 
continuing  training,  those  which  show 
the  contribution  made  by  international 
cooperation, and those which disseminate 
the results of Community interventions. 

collective 

agreements, 

...,  those  promoting  amongst  the  social 
partners,  in  a  manner  consistent  with 
national  rules  and,  where  applicable, 
through 
a 
willingness to contribute to the provision 
of initial training and continuing training, 
those which show the contribution  made 
by  international  cooperation,  and  those 
which  disseminate 
results  of 
the 
Community  interventions. 
Otherwise unchanged 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(95) 316  final 

EN 

16 

Catalogue riumiier :  CB-C0-95-346-EN-C 

ISBN92-77-91195-6 

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